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Some places with camping bans preventing homeless people from sleeping in public areas include Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, San Diego, and Portland, Oregon. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 25, 2024

SCOTUS homelessness case can have ripple effects in CT

The Supreme Court case Grants Pass v. Gloria Johnson could upend homeless populations in Connecticut and nationwide. The case centers around whether …

Though Connecticut's benefits cliff persists, there are other programs helping people maintain benefits of some kind when their income pushes them over the limit. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

CT Day of Action raises awareness on 'benefits cliff'

Today, groups working with lower-income families in Connecticut are raising awareness about the state's "benefits cliff" with a day of action…

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness finds, as of Jan. 15, 801 people are outside, unsheltered in cold temperatures, despite Connecticut recently implementing the Severe Cold Weather Protocol due to extremely low temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

CT takes action to keep homeless people safe in winter

Connecticut organizations are working to protect homeless people from winter's biting chill. This time of year poses severe health challenges for …

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finds 67% of nitrogen oxide emissions, a key component of smog, came from transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Highway changes could make Hartford a walkable city

A Connecticut Department of Transportation study has outlined plans to make Hartford a walkable city. The Greater Hartford Mobility Study proposes …

A 2023 point-in-time census found the number of chronically homeless people in Connecticut remained at 117 between 2022 and 2023 but youth homelessness increased by 7.06%. (Adobe Stock)

CT group seeks solutions to homelessness

A Connecticut group is holding several roundtable discussions about ways to end homelessness. The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness is …

In 2023, Connecticut's General Assembly considered legislation to establish a winter eviction moratorium, making it illegal to evict anyone from December through March. However, the bill failed to come to a vote. (Adobe Stock)

CT group hosts community forum addressing housing

A Connecticut group is holding a community policy forum to discuss housing. The state is facing a severe affordable-housing shortage with soaring …

The United Way of Connecticut's ALICE report found 39% of people in Connecticut live below the threshold of $33,120 per year. In some communities, it could be as high as 68% of households. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT 'unaffordable' for many, despite state intervention

A new analysis found financial hardship is growing in Connecticut. United Way of Connecticut's ALICE Report focuses on those who are Asset Limited…

According to a new report, pay differences based on workers' gender, race and ethnicity all contribute to persistent wage inequality in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Economic, Job Growth Lags Behind U.S.

A new report found Connecticut's economic growth is lagging, post-pandemic. The data showed, using the pandemic-induced recession as a baseline…

A Connecticut Voices for Children report found 39% of renters in the state who were not current on rent payments felt they would be evicted in the next two months. The rate was higher for Black and Latino renters, at 54% and 56% respectively. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Needs Long-Term Solutions to Eviction Crisis

A new report outlines long-term solutions for what it calls Connecticut's eviction crisis. The Connecticut Fair Housing Coalition found there were 21…

Although Connecticut's rankings in most health-related areas declined in the latest Kids Count Data Book, the state saw minor improvement in the number of children with health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Children Need Health, Education Investments

Investments in education and health are needed to bolster Connecticut's children, a new annual report found. In the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids …

Across the United States, child populations have declined from 74.2 million to 73.1 million between 2010 and 2020, according to a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This contrasts with the child population between 2000 and 2010, which increased by 1.9 million. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Child Population Continues to Decline

A recent report finds Connecticut's child population declined over the last decade. According to a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation…

According to a report from Connecticut Voices for Children, Connecticut households are more likely to face housing-cost burdens than households across the United States as a whole. Data on evictions shows the high cost of rent relative to income is directly linked to the eviction filing rate in Connecticut towns. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Policy Options to Alleviate CT’s Eviction Crisis

A recent report examines Connecticut's eviction crisis and addresses some solutions to it. The report from Connecticut Voices for Children finds 39% …

As part of a new bill up for consideration by the Connecticut General Assembly, landlords would have to provide tenants with 90 days' notice before implementing a rent increase. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly Considers Legislation to Aid Renters

Connecticut's General Assembly is considering legislation to establish fair and equitable housing opportunities. Senate Bill 4 aims to establish a …

According to 2019 data from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, of the 11 million people incarcerated yearly, about 15% have been homeless. Conversely, around 48,000 people going into homeless shelters each year come, nearly directly, from prisons or jails. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Public-Housing Policies Exclude People with Criminal Records

A new report calls for public housing authorities to change certain policies to prevent excluding people with criminal records. The Prison Policy …

A bill in the Connecticut General Assembly calls for a $50 million investment into homeless and housing programs in the state, with more than $37 million to help chronically underfunded homeless response nonprofits. (Adobe Stock)

CT Legislation Would Fund Programs Addressing Homelessness

Proposed legislation aims to fund numerous programs helping Connecticut's homeless population. The bill would invest $50 million in the state's …

According to the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, evictions reached their <a href=

lowest points during the pandemic because of rent protections. During 2020 and 2021, evictions reached 6,429 and 9,356, respectively. (Adobe Stock)">

CT Facing Rise in Evictions

Connecticut is seeing a record high number of evictions. During 2022, the state recorded more than 21,000 evictions filed, despite a decline from 2017…

An estimated 470,000 households in Connecticut pay at least 30% of their income toward housing, according to Growing Together Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

'Growing Together CT' Aims at State's Affordable Housing Crisis

A new alliance has formed to address Connecticut's affordable housing crisis, with a focus on its urban centers. "Growing Together Connecticut" is …

For the Livable Communities grant, AARP Connecticut prioritized funding projects that enhance affordable-housing options for people age 50 and older and create safe public spaces for older adults as well. (Adobe Stock)

AARP CT Grants Support Enhancing Outdoor Rec, Community Spaces

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The latest round of an AARP Connecticut program will provide grants of up to $5,000 to organizations and municipalities improving …

According to the 2021 Kids Count Data Book, the number of Connecticut children ages 3 and 4 not enrolled in preschool has dropped in the last decade, from 38% in 2009-2011 to 34% in 2017-2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report Suggests More CT Families Backslid Financially in Pandemic

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut ranks in the top 10 states for children's education and health, but its families rank lower in terms of economic well-…

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness Point-In-Time count shows about 300 fewer homeless households in Jan. 2021 than Jan. 2020. The coalition says that is, in part, the result of federal aid that is still needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Coalition: New CT State Budget Slights People Who are Homeless

HARTFORD, Conn. - A coalition of service providers for people who are experiencing homelessness in Connecticut is asking state lawmakers and Gov…

According to the Alliance Voice of Community Nonprofits, the pandemic has worsened the impacts of already inadequate funding for nonprofit groups, such as creating telehealth services, getting PPE, and providing hazard pay to essential workers. (Adobe Stock)

Frontline Housing Services Call for Adequate State Funding

HARTFORD, Conn. -- In the General Assembly, the Appropriations Committee has been getting an earful about the need for more funding for affordable …

The most recent count of Connecticut's homeless population saw a 4% decrease between January 2019 and January 2020, but that was before the pandemic, and numbers have likely jumped since then. (Adobe Stock)

CT Lawmakers Consider Bill to End Homelessness

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A landmark bill that would make housing a human right for all Connecticut residents is making its way through the General Assembly…

A new survey finds almost 7,800 people younger than 25 in Connecticut were on the streets or couch surfing with friends or relatives in 2020. (Allan Vega/CCEH)

2020 Survey Estimates Nearly 2,500 Homeless Youth in CT

HARTFORD, Ct. -- Almost 2,500 people younger than age 25 were living on the streets at some point in 2020, according to new estimates from a network …

Workers rallied at the state Capitol for additional COVID relief in May. (ULA)

Anti-Poverty Advocates Welcome COVID Relief, Say More Is Needed

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Workers' rights groups are hopeful Congress will pass a $900 billion COVID relief bill but said it's just a first step. The bill …

Connecticut lost a congressional seat after the 2020 census, something that could happen again if there is a significant undercount this time. (Greater New Haven Counts)

Census Parade to Roll Through CT Friday

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A parade of cars will roam New Haven Friday, blasting out tunes -- part of an event to draw attention to the census. The 2020 …

Nationally, 28% of African-American and 19% of Latinx children live in areas of concentrated poverty. (poco_bw/Adobe Stock)

Racial Disparities in Child Poverty Persist in Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. — A new report shows fewer Connecticut children are living in concentrated poverty, but wide racial disparities persist…

Criminal-justice advocates say discrimination based on a person's past criminal record extends punishment long after release. (@skywardkick/Twenty20)

"Smart Justice" Bill Gets a Hearing

HARTFORD, Conn. - State legislators held a hearing Tuesday on a bill that would expand Connecticut's civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination …

Homelessness in Connecticut has decreased by 25 percent since 2007. (sinzicraciun0/Pixabay)

CT Homeless Stats Don’t Tell the Whole Story

HARTFORD, Conn. – A federal report released this week says homelessness increased more than 17 percent in Connecticut this year, but housing …

As many as 1 in 10 current or recent college students face homelessness as they juggle student debt and living expenses, research shows. (nikolayhg/Pixabay)

Working to End Poverty Among College Students

HARTFORD, Conn. – Studying while hungry – many college students struggle to get enough to eat because they lack money to buy food…

About half of all renter families headed by someone 65 or older are

Financial Security of Millions Threatened by High Rent

HARTFORD, Conn. – High rents are threatening families' financial security and putting home ownership out of reach for many, according to a new …

Extreme Cold Puts CT Homeless at Risk

HARTFORD, Conn. – Sustained temperatures well below freezing can be life-threatening to Connecticut's homeless population, but warming centers …

Chronic homelessness in Connecticut has decreased almost 60 percent in three years. (fantareis/Pixabay)

Budget Impasse Raises Concerns for Homeless Services

HARTFORD, Conn. – Advocates for the homeless are worried that cuts in Connecticut's budget, now almost seven weeks overdue, could roll back …

Decades of discrimination have been linked to economic insecurity, social isolation and poorer health. (Kenneth Freeman/Flickr)

Meeting the Needs of Older LGBT Adults

HARTFORD, Conn. – With LGBT Pride celebrations just around the corner, a new report shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults …

Proposed federal and state budget cuts are jeopardizing programs such as Meals on Wheels, in Connecticut and across the country. (Dwight Burdette/Wikimedia Commons)

CT Agencies Call for Full Funding of Anti-Poverty Programs

HARTFORD, Conn. - Proposed state and federal budget cuts threaten Connecticut's most vulnerable residents. That's the message service providers and …

The 2016 census showed a 20 percent decline in the chronically homeless in Connecticut. (Matthew Woitunski/Wikimedia Commons)

Volunteers Needed to Help Count Connecticut's Homeless

HARTFORD, Conn. – Volunteers are needed to help with the annual census of homelessness in Connecticut next month. On Jan. 24, people will fan …

The number of homeless in CT has dropped 4 percent since 2007. (Ed Yourdon/Wikimedia Commons)

CT Homeless Count Continues to Fall

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut continues to make progress toward ending homelessness, according to the latest count. The annual survey, released …

A parent's incarceration can have the same emotional impact as abuse, domestic violence or divorce on a child. (bluemix/pixabay)

When Parents Go to Jail, Children Suffer

HARTFORD, Conn. – Thousands of children have experienced one or both parents serving time in prison and a new report by the Annie E. Casey …

Connecticut housed more than 750 homeless veterans in 2015. (Jake Berenguer USN/Wikimedia Commons)

Connecticut Ends Homelessness for Vets

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut has ended homelessness for veterans, Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Thursday. Connecticut was one of only four states …

Access to safe, reliable child care helps homeless families secure jobs and housing. (USDA/flickr)

Bill to Help Homeless Families Find Child Care Gets a Hearing

HARTFORD, Conn. - Child care is a vital service, but particularly for homeless families, that's the message advocates will be delivering Tuesday to …

Domestic-violence shelter usage in Connecticut has doubled since 2008. (CMY Kane/flickr.com)

CT Domestic-Violence Shelters Overflowing

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut's domestic-violence shelters are consistently full, according to a report released Tuesday. Karen Jarmoc, CEO of the …

In Connecticut, 25 percent of households earn incomes above the poverty level but below the basic cost of living. (USDA/flickr.com)

Report Highlights Need for Affordable Housing

HARTFORD, Conn. - Thirty-five-percent of Connecticut households are struggling just to get by, according to a new report from United Way. The ALICE …

Connecticut was the first state in the nation to end chronic homelessness among veterans. Credit: R0sss/Flickr.

Success Housing Vets a Model for Ending Chronic Homelessness

HARTFORD, Conn. – Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and in Connecticut there is reason to celebrate progress in the struggles many veterans have faced …

More than half the Syrian refugees heading to the United States are children. Credit: UK-DFID/Wikimedia Commons

As More Syrian Refugees Arrive, CT is Ready to Help

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The U.S will admit 10,000 refugees from Syria over the next year, more than five times the number admitted in the past 12 months…

School Attendance Awareness Month kicks-off in September and in Connecticut there is special emphasis in Hartford Public Schools where six-in-10 students are chronically absent from class. Credit: woodleywonderworks via wiki commons.

Connecticut School Attendance Woes

HARTFORD, Conn. – Nationwide, nearly one in 10 students is chronically absent from school, but as School Attendance Awareness month kicks off …

PHOTO: The first Monday in March kicks off with winter weather advisories for much of the state, and many Connecticut homeless shelters are already over capacity. Credit: Mike Clifford

Spring Inches Closer: CT Homeless Shelters in Winter Overdrive

HARTFORD, Conn. - March arrived with winter advisories for much of the state. Still the month promises to bring warmer temperatures, and few are …

PHOTO: A new analysis finds there are still a lot of folks across the state and nation on the edge financially, and part of the reason is the high cost of housing. Photo credit: Jo Naylor

Over Half of CT Renters Overburdened by Housing Costs

HARTFORD, Conn. - Affordable housing can be key to helping working families gain and keep financial stability, but for many, the costs of rent and …

Photo: Winter Storm Chester has local shelters pushed to capacity, but advocates say nobody who calls 2-1-1 in the state will be turned away. Photo credit: Mark Scheerer

Extreme Cold: "Stretched to Limit" but Reaching CT Homeless

HARTFORD, Conn. - Winter Storm Janus is stretching capacity at local homeless shelters to the limit, but advocates say preparations have been made to …

PHOTO: Stacey Violante Cote, attorney at Center for Children�s Advocacy, says interviews of homeless youth in Connecticut shows a range of dangerous behaviors. Photo courtesy of Cote.

First-Ever Survey on Homeless and Runaway Youth in Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. – Invisible No More is the name of a presentation in Hartford today of the first-ever study of runaway and homeless youth in …

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CT: Housing/Homelessness